Halfback Will Genia and flanker David Pocock get their first starting roles in Tri-Nations rugby amid a selection upheaval as the winless Wallabies seek to reverse their fortunes against unbeaten South Africa on Saturday.

The pair are among five changes made by coach Robbie Deans to the starting team for the Lang Park clash in the wake of last Saturday's 32-25 loss to the Springboks in Perth.

Genia will make his Test starting debut replacing the out-of-sorts Luke Burgess at the base of the scrum.

Captain George Smith switches to replace the axed Richard Brown at number eight, allowing youngster Pocock to come in at openside flanker.

Barnes' return sees Adam Ashley-Cooper shift out one backline slot from last week to replace Ryan Cross at outside centre.

Deans says Barnes' established combination with Genia, whom he has played alongside regularly at the Reds, was a factor.

"Will has shown us since he joined the squad at the start of the Tri-Nations that he is up to this level, and we saw that [off the bench] again last Saturday night," he said.

"Having Berrick, whom he knows so well and has such a great understanding with, playing along side him will also help."

Deans had no qualms about using world class openside flanker Smith as a number eight.

"George is comfortable at the back of the scrum while Dave [Pocock] has shown, in the opportunities he's had to date, that he is worthy of a crack from the start.

"Likewise Polota-Nau has earned a starting spot after making an impact from the run on substitutes each time he has been called on."

Moore moves to the bench alongside Burgess, while Brown has been omitted from the line-up with powerhouse number eight Wycliff Palu returning on the bench after getting through a hit-out for his Manly club last weekend.

Western Force prop Pek Cowan, who also played club rugby last weekend, has similarly been promoted onto the bench, taking over from Al Baxter.

Flyhalf Quade Cooper has been selected on the bench, subject to proving his fitness after spraining his knee at the end of Saturday's Test.

Although Australia can no longer win either the Tri-Nations or the Mandela Trophy this year, Deans says the remainder of the competition, and in particular his charges' last crack at the world's top ranked team for the year, still offered a major opportunity.

"It's a Test match and against the world's best team at one of the premier venues in world rugby. That's not a prospect any of our blokes would take lightly,"" he said.

"Every time you put on your national jumper you want to and expect to - do your best. That motivation doesn't change, regardless of the circumstance."

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